Harry Kane completed his long quest for football’s highest individual honour on Monday, with the Bayern Munich and England striker winning the Ballon d’Or after a record-breaking season that cemented his status as one of the game’s greatest goalscorers.

Kane is the first Englishman to win the prestigious award in 25 years, after ​Michael Owen won it in 2001, Reuters reported.

“Wow, wow, wow!” Kane said after taking the stage. “I am almost speechless. Being here in London has made it ‌extra special. Made it a good omen for me tonight. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I can imagine it was tough this year.

“Some world-class players in the room tonight. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees tonight and impressive showing determination and hard work can really achieve.”

Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d’Or Feminin for the third time.

Kane’s move to Bayern in 2023 brought the team trophies ​that had long eluded him. In 2025-26, he coupled that success with goalscoring numbers that made him the leading Ballon d’Or candidate.

The England captain produced his most prolific campaign, ​scoring 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern across all competitions as the German side completed a domestic league and cup double.

By the end ⁠of the season, Kane had established himself as Europe’s leading goalscorer.

His influence stretched far beyond club football.

He scored six goals at the World Cup and led England to the semi-finals, combining his clinical ​finishing with the leadership and composure that have defined his international career.

The award represents the culmination of a remarkable journey. Few players have experienced a career arc quite like Kane’s, ​and he thanked all of his career coaches in his emotional speech, plus Tottenham Hotspur and his wife Kate.

Once struggling to establish himself at Spurs as a youngster, being sent out on numerous loans, he developed into one of the most complete centre forwards of his generation, capable of scoring every type of goal while also functioning as a playmaker.

“It’s about the journey,” Kane said. “Anything is possible, work hard when ​nobody is watching.

“For any young boy or girl wanting to achieve their dreams, anything is possible. I wasn’t the kid who went straight to the top. I had to ​experience the downs. I had to find my way to be the very best right now.”

CONSISTENCY

The Ballon d’Or has often rewarded players whose success was built on flair and spectacle, but Kane’s triumph ‌is a ⁠tribute to consistency, intelligence and productivity on an exceptional scale.

Week after week, he delivered. Match after match, he decided contests. There were no prolonged slumps and few quiet nights.

His numbers were almost impossible to ignore.

Kane finished the campaign with 73 goals for club and country, a total rarely seen in the modern era. More importantly, those goals arrived in moments of genuine significance, helping Bayern collect trophies and driving England deep into the biggest tournament in the sport.

The competition for this year’s award was fierce. Kylian Mbappe broke World Cup scoring ​records. Lamine Yamal helped Spain to World ​Cup glory. Yet voters ultimately chose ⁠Kane, whose excellence lasted the entire season.

Mbappe finished second, followed by Lamine, Rodri and Lionel Messi.

At 33, Kane has finally claimed the game’s highest individual honour, adding a Ballon d’Or to a legacy that already places him among football’s greatest strikers as England’s all-time leading ​marksman and their record World Cup scorer.

Putellas was presented with the women’s award after winning the treble with Barcelona in the ​2025-26 campaign, in addition to ⁠the Spanish Super Cup. She moved to Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses in July after 14 years at Barca.

Spain and Barcelona players won the young talent awards, Lamine picking up his third trophy and Vicky Lopez taking home the women’s award for the second successive year.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was named men’s coach of the year, while Barcelona’s Pere ⁠Romeu won ​the women’s coaching award.

The men’s goalkeeper award went to Unai Simon of Spain and Athletic Bilbao, while Cata ​Coll of Spain and Barcelona won the women’s award.

Paris St Germain won the men’s club of the year award, while Barcelona picked up the women’s honours. Kane won the men’s striker of the year prize, while Charlyn ​Corral was named top women’s striker.

Arsenal and England winger Bukayo Saka was presented with the Socrates Award for humanitarian work.

Ariana Radio and Television Network (ATN) has secured the exclusive media rights to broadcast the fifth season of the International League T20 (ILT20) across Afghanistan on television and digital platforms.

The acquisition will give cricket fans across the country access to the DP World ILT20, the United Arab Emirates’ professional franchise-based Twenty20 cricket league, which features international stars and players from several cricketing nations.

Season 5 is scheduled to run from November 21 to December 20, 2026, with 34 matches planned across three venues: Dubai International Stadium, Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

The tournament features six franchises: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Desert Vipers, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriorz. The competition comprises 30 group-stage matches followed by four playoff matches, including the final.

ILT20 has established itself as a platform for international cricket talent, bringing together leading overseas players and emerging cricketers from the UAE and the wider region. The league also has a strong connection with Afghanistan cricket, with Afghan internationals featuring among its players.

Afghanistan stars, including Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mohammad Nabi, are among the players associated with franchises competing in the league, adding further interest for Afghan audiences.

The tournament’s fast-paced T20 format, with each team facing a maximum of 20 overs, has helped make it a popular option for cricket broadcasting, offering action-packed matches suited to television and digital audiences.

The exclusive agreement strengthens ATN’s sports broadcasting offering and provides Afghan cricket fans with access to another major international competition featuring some of the game’s recognised players.

Further details on match-by-match coverage, broadcast schedules and digital viewing options will be communicated in the coming days. Fans are however encouraged to follow ATN’s social media platforms for updates.

Lionel Messi has brought his 21-year international career with Argentina to an emotional end, scoring in a 3-0 victory over Benin in front of a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, made his record-extending 208th appearance for Argentina and scored his 126th international goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

Messi also provided the assist for Nicolás Otamendi to open the scoring, before Nico Paz added a third as Argentina secured a comfortable victory.

But the result was secondary to the emotional farewell for Messi, who received a huge ovation from around 85,000 supporters.

The Argentina captain was visibly emotional even before the match, wiping away tears as the team bus travelled through crowds of supporters on its way to the stadium.

Messi entered the pitch alongside his three children, while his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and mother, Celia Cuccittini, watched from the VIP area.

A giant Argentina shirt displaying the word “Gracias” above Messi’s famous No. 10 was placed on the pitch before kick-off.

The emotion continued during the national anthem, with Messi appearing tearful as Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana sang alongside a banner reading “The Malvinas are Argentine.”

The match was stopped in the 10th minute in honour of Messi’s iconic shirt number, with the entire stadium joining in a minute-long ovation.

Messi then produced the moment fans had hoped for, converting a penalty in the 71st minute to cap his final appearance on home soil.

‘I gave it my all’

After the final whistle, a spectacular drone show illuminated the sky above the Monumental, displaying Messi’s image and paying tribute to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Messi’s international farewell comes just over two months after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey.

Following that defeat, Messi said: “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Messi was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Buenos Aires during a ceremony at the Argentine Football Association headquarters.

Fans also gathered outside the AFA headquarters, unfurling a huge Argentine flag featuring Messi alongside the words “The joy of my life.”

Former Barcelona teammate Neymar paid tribute to Messi, saying the world should thank him for everything he had done for football.

Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although he has previously indicated that he could retire from football sooner than expected.

His Argentina career included the 2022 World Cup triumph, ending the country’s 36-year wait for a third world title, as well as Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024.

Argentina also finished runners-up at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups.

After more than two decades representing the national team, Messi’s final night in Buenos Aires provided an emotional farewell to one of the defining figures in Argentina’s football history.